Resources

Pets who respond to certain forms of handling with fear, anxiety, arousal or aggression may be considered “handling sensitive.” This can be problematic, because most pet parents would like to pet, handle or cuddle their pets — and basic forms of handling are often required to keep cats and dogs healthy.

One of the most serious behavioral issues a dog owner can face is escaping, as it can lead to tragic consequences. If your dog escapes and is running loose, they are in danger of being hit by a car or injured in other ways.

Thunder, fireworks or other loud sounds often scare pets, even if a pet hasn’t had a negative experience tied to the loud noise. This is entirely understandable!

Dog-reactive dogs often respond to other dogs by becoming visibly aroused — which can look like pulling toward them, barking, growling or lunging. Reactivity is not necessarily related to a dog’s sociability, as many dog-reactive dogs can show social behaviors in other situations.

You may have been told to never disturb a pet while they are eating — this is great advice! It’s natural for animals to want to safeguard a limited resource like food, so this is when we most commonly see resource guarding behaviors.

When a dog who suffers from separation anxiety is left alone, they experience fear and panic.

Learn about pet body language and what it can tell you about how they are feeling.

Dog parks provide an off-leash space where your companion can get exercise and socialize with other dogs and people. For dogs who truly enjoy exposure to new people, dogs, and environments, dog parks can go a long way towards enriching their lives and providing fulfilling experiences.

Pets greatly benefit from enrichment, which is defined as an opportunity to engage in species-specific behaviors that meet an animal’s needs in the wild.

Dogs are naturally inclined to hunt for their food, so they often enjoy being challenged by the process of finding and gathering food!

There are lots of activities you can do with your pet to provide them with the mental and physical exercise they need. Allowing your pet to do natural activities like digging, chewing, chasing and searching in a safe and appropriate way is incredibly beneficial!

Exercise helps you stay healthy and active — and also yields a multitude of benefits for your pup too! Exercising with your dog helps them maintain a healthy weight, keeps their joints and muscles strong and improves their cardiovascular system.